Pharmacies, who have been hurting from COVID-19, will receive funding particularly in downstate communities that don’t necessarily receive as much funding as other areas of Illinois. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza along with State Senator Andy Manar will be giving $1.3 million in payments towards pharmacies under the Critical Access Pharmacy, or CAP Program.
The program helps pharmacies that have experienced serious financial difficulty because of lower rates offered from the managed care program and rate cuts by benefit managers. Senator Manar says that this helps rural communities with health and economic viability.
“Neighborhood pharmacies are facing a double bind of predatory practices by corporate competitors and increased costs due to volatile supply chains amid the pandemic. Despite that, they’ve been a trusted source of local medical care for rural families, and these payments will ensure that service continues.”
This payment was the fourth payment to help pharmacies in downstate Illinois. The program gave $1 million in March, $1.9 million last December, and $4.7 million last July.
